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[degenere]

FORM: sending crystal
SENDER: Val de Foncé (and with him, as always, is Jehan Mercier)
RECIPIENT: e v e r y o n e
WHAT: the scholars of Orlais have something to say.
WHEN: now, right now
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: aren't they charming.


Inquisition, we are confused.

[Melodious, Orlesian, flirtatious (somehow even in this most simple of sentences): these are three words one might use to describe the sound of Val's voice. It makes confused sound kind of fun, if a bit puzzling.]

My friend and I have come all this way to be an asset to you. And now we have arrived here, to your Skyhold, and we find so much to be in want. How have you all managed so far, with these conditions? I am a man used to the roughness of a camp, a life of travel. I love this life. You'll find no one loves it more than me. But a camp, that is one thing, and this? It is meant to be a city, of a sort. Yet there is no apartment for us. There is barely a work space, in your library--we have been, my friend and I. We have seen the conditions. There is barely a book there.

I am sorry for you, Inquisition.

[So sincere. A pause, in which he has pressed a hand to his chest, in a deep show of pity. And then, briskly, cheerfully:]

But we will not leave you there, in sorrow. The good news. You now have, among your numbers, me. An introduction: Valentine de Foncé, a master architect, among many other masteries, too numerous to name. If you ask sweetly, I'll tell you them all. If you ask very sweetly, I'll give demonstration. And for the Inquisition, I will offer my services, and my knowledge--and so, too, does my friend. If only so we can get a decent space in which we can do our work. And believe me: you want this. We have arrived to be your greatest blessing.

Now, tell me. With business sorted: what does anyone do for fun around here?

Comments

[degenere]

Engaging, but never engaged. The best state to exist in, I have found. I think it is promising that you do not tire easily. You do not strike me as a boaster--and how wonderful that is, may I said, I am so tired of people who do nothing but talk of how great they are--

[Like, you know, Val himself, but perhaps that's why he is tired of it: because he gets his fill of boasting from himself.]

I find modesty much more becoming. And exciting. All the secrets that one gets to tease out of the modest!

My proposition is this: we share our drink. And then, tomorrow, we meet again.

[fledglingenchanter]

[She was the opposite of a boaster and was quite happy not to draw attention to herself. At least his boasting can fill silences and isn't completely unwarranted.]

You've certainly won some secrets from me. I hope in time I might learn to pry secrets from you with the same level of skill. This, of course, means that I am more than willing to meet you tomorrow. We are after all friends, yes?

[degenere]

You can aspire, certainly, to such heights. But I am very skilled.

[It's not boasting if it's true. Or, at least, it's not just boasting. All that being said, Val rests his elbow on the table and raises his mug, expectant of a toast. If she is even a little slow to respond, he will prompt her by raising his eyebrows. Well?]

We drink, this time, to friendship. May it be a very long and very happy one. Full of secrets shared.

[fledglingenchanter]

You never know. I might surprise you.

[Rather than be offended, she just grins at him. It takes less time than he might expect as she almost offered a toast herself. Her cup eagerly tinks against his.]

To secrets shared and good times.

[degenere]

And, with any luck: surprises.

[He knocks his mug against her glass with great enthusiasm--enough to jar her a little, maybe slop some of her wine over her hand. Just a little. And it was completely not deliberate. Do not be fooled by the way that he is ready, immediately, to touch his fingertips against the hand in question, to wipe away the wine spots.]

My apologies.

[fledglingenchanter]

[Sadira gasps softly as her hand is jarred. The wine does indeed slosh slightly onto hand as well as a little over the table. At first, she is too distracted to even notice his touch.]

No need for apologies. It isn't like anything was damaged.

[Laughing softly, she arched an eyebrow at him.]

Shall we consider that an additional surprise?

[degenere]

Shall we? If you think that was surprising--

[He spares his thumb a casual glance, then licks it clean of wine smudges, almost as an afterthought, and sneaks another look at her--]

You will be very much surprised at what will follow all of this. I am a very good friend.

[fledglingenchanter]

[In spite of her best efforts at being nonchalant, Sadira cannot hide the rise of color to her cheeks. Ignoring it, she fixed him with a bemused look.]

So that was planned then? It seems a little coy of you-- unless that too is planned? [A grin once again creeps out.] You should know, I don't mind very good friends. I am just unused to being open about attraction after a life in the circle.

[degenere]

I don't think I will tell you either way. Planned or unplanned, coy or not so coy... that will all be a surprise too. One you might never learn the answer to.

[Oh, well. There are worse things. He leans back again, considering her now from this angle.]

I have been told that romance is discouraged in Circles. So that is true?

[fledglingenchanter]

[Even though she'd brought it up, talking about the circles was the last thing she wanted to do. Sighing, she took a long drink from her cup.]

It's true for the most part. Some are laxer than others. Many mages also saw it as one more thing the Templars could take away. Still, it wasn't uncommon for us to go sneaking off to some quiet corner or another for a tryst.

[degenere]

I knew it.

[This answer pleases him, and he takes another sip of ale to reward himself for his wisdom.]

Another mage has told me of the chaste sadness of Circle life, and I knew that could not completely be the case. Just an exaggeration.

[fledglingenchanter]

[Sadira laughed again, smirking.]

Some Circles were more strict, and others had mages that were too scared to try. Ostwick was lax in some ways. We still weren't open about affection, however. At least no more than a mentor might to a student.

[degenere]

Ostwick. I had wondered, where it was you were from. We have been to Ostwick. It was not a very long stay. Should I be glad for that?

[fledglingenchanter]

You probably saw more of the city than I ever did. Templars usually frowned on us walking around. [She shrugged lightly, also sitting back.] Possibly? The city itself isn't bad, just guarded. But if you're referring what I said about the Circle-- Well That is something you'd have to decide for yourself.

[degenere]

I meant more in terms of the entertainment, but if you were not allowed out--I suppose you would not know. A shame, that you were kept so contained. If that is what lax looks like, perhaps my dramatic mage friend was correct about all the sadness he carries around.

But what luck, then, that you are here! Freedoms everyone. For instance--

[He waves a hand to encompass the room they are in.]

Not the loveliest of accommodations. But all the same: something to drink to, again.

[fledglingenchanter]

[Dropping her gaze, she looked down towards the table and her completely forgotten book. Idly her hand traced over the cover as she thought about the Circle. At least until he encouraged her to look up at the tavern around them.]

I doubt you'd be surprised that I am fond of this place already? [She chuckled lowly as she lifted up her cup.] I can drink to that and to the very good company I find myself in unfettered.

[degenere]

[He is not surprised. But he is also not very firm on the true experience of lacking freedom, which is why he is quite flippant about it all--cheerfully, bracingly, not unkindly, but flippant all the same.

And anyways, she's not mooning over things past, which displays an emotional fortitude and the constitution of someone Val can stand to be around. Which is why he clinks his mug against hers.]

The very same to you. Now, tell me-- [Oh, wait; he takes his drink and swallows, quickly, leans forward to ask this pressing question:] One thing I must know of mages firsthand is, do they each have a specialty? And if they truly do: what, then, is yours?

[fledglingenchanter]

[She leaned towards him, tilting her head slightly as she rested her elbows on the table.]

We usually do. Even the Tranquil... Some are of study we prefer or some magic we perfect. I am most proficient at Storm magic which is lightning and energy barrages. Beyond that, I am studying to be a Knight-Enchanter.

[Although her cup was nearly empty, she took a long sip from it after toasting with him.]

But surely I cannot be all that interesting. I feel I've done you a disservice. Not asking about you and your life.

[degenere]

[Lighting is exciting. More exciting: Knight-Enchanter. In his eagerness, Val actually pulls his chair closer to the table and leans in.]

I know all about me and my life. Why would I want to speak on it more? [Well. Because of vanity. To this end, he adds, very self-aware:] Now, I mean, at present. It is not every day that I am sat in a tavern with a lovely mage, who specializes in lightnings--a specialty of great destructive power and power--who is studying to be a Knight-Enchanter.

You must see how this would be a conversation I would prefer to details of all my accomplishments and daring and--

[Well. Actually. He tips his gaze upwards as he considers this.]

All right, I see why I would be interested in this conversation. And why you would. But there is time enough for it, in our long and storied friendship.

[fledglingenchanter]

[It was refreshing to see someone was not a mage taking such a keen interest. Any misgivings she had towards him (and there were a few) were quelled for the moment. It was also odd for her to feel positive about her magic but his interest actually made her feel good that she was a mage.]

Well if you want to keep talking about me and my magic, I will oblige. [So She did have a small ego and he was flattering it. She'd go to her grave before admitting that, though.] I just didn't wish to bore you or seem uninterested in you. I am interested, by the way, in learning more about you. But yes, I am keen on becoming a Knight-Enchanter, I have been training my mind and body for it as best I can.

[degenere]

And you will learn, I promise you. I will tell you everything, absolutely everything.

[And only some of it will be boasting, how about that. Val puts his chin in his hand with the clear air of a man settling in to listen.]

Mine are of course stories worth hearing, but for now: please, continue. How do you train to become a Knight-Enchanter? What must be done?

[fledglingenchanter]

[His promise does get a raised eyebrow from her. Val was admittedly the last person she thought would tell her the truth. Not because she figured him for a liar (he did seem like he exaggerated some) but because she was a nobody, hardly worth his time.]

There is physical training as well as mental. It's not just practicing some fancy magic, but a calling too. You are expected to serve out on the front lines. I'll admit I am still in the training part. I haven't even made myself the handle for a spirit blade yet.

[degenere]

A spirit blade.

[--He repeats, with enthusiastic relish.]

That sounds terribly exciting. I have little enough experience with a blade without spirits, I will tell you. I prefer projectiles. A knife, if necessary. A thrown knife is more useful than a stabbing knife. So you see that a spirit blade would be doubly interesting to me. What is spirit about it? Does it have a form that can be carried, or must it be called upon before battle?

[fledglingenchanter]

[Sadira was warming up to the conversation and also possibly a little tipsy, so she didn't care who overheard her talking about magic.]

A spirit blade is much like a regular blade, only it is weightless, and made of magic. Yet it can cut, bypassing armor and barriers alike. Some Knight-Enchanters, carry a special hilt instead of a staff. They can channel their magic into that. Others have mastered being able to summon a blade of pure magic without the hilt.

[Her enthusiasm died a bit as she looked down at the table.]


I've not even made the hilt yet. Every Knight-Knight enchanter makes one when they start training officially.

[degenere]

Well, but you are here in Skyhold--where, we are told, the truest minds reside in this Inquisition. What better place to hone these necessary skills than a place of such talent?

[He qualifies, after a beat:]

At least, I presume there is talent. I do not know what constitutes 'talent', for a mage. But there are so many here with such gifts. Scholarly talent? Lacking. But many other gifts! As disagreeable and miserable and unfashionable and crass and crumbling a place as it might be--and it is all of those things, mademoiselle, truly, you must trust me on this--there is a reason for the Inquisition. Or so I have been told.